Freedom

"The bitter thing was all the spirit, all the gallantry, was wasted. For even more than inferiors, they accepted and looked forward to being Capped. It was a part of becoming a knight, or of turning from a girl to lady. Thinking of this, I saw how good things could be meaningless in isolation. What value did courage have, without a free and challenging mind to direct it?" (p. 111)

This quote and the rest of the chapter (ch. 6: The Castle with the Red Tower) explains how freedom is important. The quote examples how courage is meaningless without a free and challenging mind. People there (in France) looked forward to being Capped, boy to knight, girl to lady. Will thought if you were Capped and possessed you can't think using your own strength which makes you more weak and timid. Further on in the book the Comtesse and Will have a chat about staying. Thinking about Eloise made Will want to stay forever. But soon he realizes what mistake he has done, giving up freedom for goods, feeling ashamed he ran away to join Henry and Beanpole.